Cigar-making machine.



\ J. D. LACROIX.

GIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

APPLwATIoN FILED AUG. 16, 1004.

1,088,827. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. D. LACROIX.

CIGAP. MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1e, 1904y 1,088,827. Patented Mar. 3, .1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. D. LACROIX.

GIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1o, 1904.

Patented Bar.3,1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

02 Sin g d ZJ @N W vm my. ll/ NN J. D. LACROIX.

GIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.16, 1004.

'Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

J. D. LACROIX.

CIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED Aue. 1e, 1904.

1 ,088,827, Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

J. D. LACROIX.

OIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. Ia, 1904.

1,088,827. Patented Mar.3,1914

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

`J. D. LACROIX.

CIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 1e, 1904.

1,088,827, Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

f Il I fd I Mfg@

J. D. LACROIX.

CIGAR MAKING MAGHINB.

APPLIGATION'FILED AUG. 16, 1904.

1,088,827. l Patented Mans, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

dominan Dumoulin?" C0..WAeu||MrmN. u. c.

J. D. LACROIX.

CIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 16, 1904,

1,088,827, Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

J. D. LACROIX.l

CIGAR MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6. 1004.

1,088,827. Patented Man, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

j? I. Uf

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;i

JOSEPH D. LACROIX, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIG'NOR TO EUGENE H. DAVIS, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIGARJVIAKING MACHINE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH D. LACROIX, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cigar making machines, and the prilnary object of the same is, by means of comparatively simple mechanism, to facilitate the operation of applying Wrappers to cigars, binder to a filler to make a bunch, or a Wrapper to a bunch, or both, either manually or by mechanism, to increase the output of the completed product Within a given time. Fun thermore, to have the organization of eentributing elements so arranged that a part or all of the same may be utilized in manufacturing cigars and permit the formation of a product either Wholly by mechanism or partly by mechanism and by hand. Furthermore, to dispense with intricate mechanism, Where the bunches are made mechanically, for transferring the sam-e either to mechanically operated Wrapperapplying mechanisms, or to a point Where the bunch may be deposited and have the Wrapper manually applied thereto; furthermore, to

effect feeding the Wrapper to a bunch in the wrapper-applying mechanism in such manner as to cause it to conform exactly to the shape of the bunch, and also to effect proper finishing of the tip of the cigar; finally, generally to improve the details of construction of a cigar machine, capable of making a bunch, transferring the same to Wrappenapplying mechanism, applying the Wrapper' and regularly discharging the product, when completed, and reduce the mechanism for the several steps and minimize and individually simplify their construction.

It is Well known in the art of cigar making that the compression of the bunch previous to application of the outer leaf or Wrapper is dependent en the nature of the raw material used and also en atmospheric conditions existing at the time. The extent of rolling and compressing a bunch must be governed to compensate for the surrounding conditions just mentioned at the time of preparation or formation of the bunch. For instance, if the tobacco contains too Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1904.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

serial No. 220,920.

much moisture or is too dry, less compression is given. Dry tobacco will not stand much compression, as an excessive pressure will cause the same to crumble. Moist tobacco, if not carefully handled in making bunches, will become too compact and prevent a free draft through the finished cigar, even after the latter is thoroughly dry.

The mechanism embodied in the present machine has been devised to cause the bunch to be compressed just to the proper degree and the Wrapper to be applied evenly and smoothly thereto without danger of tearing, creasing, or dragging, irrespective of the atmospheric conditions er the nature of the tobacco or components of the cigar at the time the bunch is being made and the wrapper applied.

The machine embodyingI the features of the invention is capable of compressing, shaping, transferring, and depositing a bunch either to a hand operator, or to wrapper-applying mechanism. It is also adapted to receive a completed bunch made either by hand er by other mechanism and to com press and shape the same, and further is arranged te `coact with a belt initially supporting the filler and binder, and wrapping the binder around the filler, thereby making the completed bunch.

If preferred, supplemental bunch making i mechanism may be employed in conjunction with the bunch making mechanism of this apparatus, in which event the latter mechanism merely acts either as a transferring and delivering or bunch manipulating mechanism. The bunch making mechanism of this invention dispenses with the necessity of the employment of cups or molds, in termcdiate conveying mechanism for transferring the bunch from the bunch making to the wrapper applying mechanism, and also obviates the necessity of trimming the bunch just before it has the wrapper applied thereto, the trimming operation being performed by the bunch making meclmnism. When a complete bunch is deposited in the bunch making lnechanism b v hand, if it is desired to so utilize the bunch making mechanism, the latter then serves solely as a bunch manipulating mechanism.

The machine also embodies a wrapper feeding means, wrapper feeder or wrapper feeding mechanism preferably havingsuetion means cooperating therewith and automat-ically cutting off the suction from the wrapper in parts proportionate to the amount of the wrapper being wound around the bunch. The wrapper feeding means or device is provided with coperating mechanism to automatically change the feeding angle thereof relatively to the bunch and also for tilting the same tocause the wrapper to be fed proportionately to the decreasing diameters of the bunch toward opposite extremities of the latter, and, furthermore, the wrapper feeding means or device is given a depressing movement at the tuck end of the bunch. The wrapper feeding means or device also has an actuator and controller cooperating therewith to cause the same to feed the wrapper to a bunch at a speed proportionate and corresponding to the different diameters of the bunchor bunches and at the same surface speed with which the bunch revolves.

In the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, together with modifications of parts thereof, it being' understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed within the purview of the invention, and to render the several parts readily understood and discernible, like reference characters have been applied to similar structures.

In the drawings F igure 1 is a view in plan of the wrapper-cutting and wrappertransferring portion of the machine. Fig. 1a is a similar view exhibiting the bunchmaking mechanism, wrapper applying mechanism, and wrapper-feeding mechanism. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing more particularly the means for actuating the bunch-making mechanism and for effecting its vibration over the wrapperapplying mechanism. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, partly in sect-ion, showing more particularly the construction of the wrapper-cutting mechanism. Fig. t is a view in sectional elevation of the wrapper-feeding mechanism. Fig. 5 is an end view, partly in section, exhibiting the mechanism for imparting a transverse tilting motion to the feeder mechanism. Fig. 6 is a view in plan showing the mechanism for impart-ing hori- Zontal arcuate and longitudinal reciprocatory movements to the wrapper feeder mechanism. Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation showing more particularly lthe mechanism for effecting adjustment of the wrapper-V cutting die. Fig. 8 vis a detail view of the mechanism for adjusting the wrapper-cutting rollers. Fig. 9 is a detail'view of a portion of the wrapper-feeder mechanism. Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are detail. views partly in section, of the heading mechanism and wrappernicling mechanism. Fig. 15 is a detail view of the paste receptacle. Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view exhibiting the manner in which the wrapper is cut or slit by the nicking1 mechanism. Figs. 17 and 18 are detail views of the wrapper-applying rolls, Fig. 17 showing the same closed around a bunch and applying the wrapper thereto, and Fig. 18 showing the same open to permit discharge of a finished cigar. Figs. 19 and 20I are detail views of the bunch-making rolls, Fig. 19 showing the same closed around a bunch and applying the binder thereto, and Fig. AO showing the same open to discharge the bunch into the wrapper-applying mechanism. Fig. 21 is a detail perspective view of the bunch cutter or trimmer. Fig. 22 is a detail perspective view of the temporary binder and filler or bunch supporter. Fig. 23 is a perspective detail view of the plunger for forcing the bunch or filler, together withV the binder and filler or bunch supporter down between the bunch-making rolls. Fig. 24 is a sectional detail view in elevation of the mechanism for opening and closing the bunch-making rolls. Fig. 25 is a sectional detail view in plan of the mechanism for opening and closing the bunch-making rolls. Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the grippers and tuckcutting mechanism. Fig. 27 is a sectional detail view of the tucking mechanism. Figs. 28, 29 and 30 are detail views of a modified form of nicking and header mechanism. Fig. 31 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism for imparting movement to the carrier. Fig. 31a is a detail view in diagram illustrating the bunch forming and shaping or manipulating rolls in section and the operation of the binder and filler apron in connection therewith. Fig. 32 is a view in elevation of a modified form of the sector shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 38 is a sectional view of the modified form of sector shown in Fig. 32, the section being taken on the line d3-33 of Fig. 32.

In describing the mechanism of this apparatus the construction and manner of assemblage of the elements for effecting the results designed, will be divided into sections under headings indicating the parts of the machine to be described, and afterward a full and explicit explanatioii of the successive steps leading up to the final result will be given.

rIhe order in which the mechanisms will be described, is a follows :--1. Bunch making and transferring mechanism; 2, bunch cutting mechanism; 3, wrapper applying mechanism; 4, wrapper-cutting and transferring mechanism; 5, wrapper feeder mechanism; 6, wrapper-feeder actuating mechanism; 7, wrapper-tucking mechanism; and 8, tuck and cutting mechanism.

Before describing the invention it is desired to point out tersely one of the salient and all important features of this invention, and that which differentiates it from the art to which this invention relates, and that is the employment of a bunch -making mechanism embodying a plurality of rolls, said mechanism constituting at once a bunch maker and a bunch transferrer. Heretofore, several ,mechanisms have been employed to effect the result accomplished by the single aggroupment of elements of this invention, for effecting the formation of the bunch, the application of the binder thereto, and the transferring of the bunch from the bunch-making mechanism to the Wrapperapplying mechanism. By making one combination of elements perform the series of functions described, the employment of a bunch-making table, a bunch-transferrer, in the nature of an endless conveyer or of swinging arms, and means for depositing the bunch within the wrapper-applying mechanism, is obviated. It will be apparent that by eliminating such a number of parts, which are of somewhat intricate nature, not only will the operation of the machine be simplified, but its cost of production will be correspondingly reduced and danger of lderangement and breakage of parts will be minimized.

Banc/t making and transferring mechem'sm.-' he bunch-making and transferring mechanism comprises a plurality of yielding rolls 1, of which there may be any desired number. As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the rolls are divided in two series of three each and are carried by two pairs of jaws 2 and 3 adapted to open and close to receive and discharge a bunch, as will presently appeal'. Motion is imparted to the rolls through the medium of a pinion t with which the pinions 5 of the rolls are adapted to mesh when in closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 1a. The shaft of the pinion 4 carries a motion transmitting gear-wheel G, with which meshes a gear 7 carried by the inner end of a stub-shaft S suitably journaled in the side frame 9 of the machine, the outer end of said shaft 8 having keyed or otherwise secured to it a gear 10 which meshes with a gear 11 also mounted upon a stub-shaft carried by the side frame 9. It will be seen that when motion is imparted to the gear 11, this will be transferred through the gears 10 and 7 to the O'ear G, thus to the pinion 4 and from this to the gears of the various rolls, imparting thereto rotary motion in the desired direction. Vhen the rolls are open, they will remain stationary, but as soon as closed after having received a bunch they will immediately begin to rotate, thus to effect either shaping or compressing of a filler or a bunch, or the shaping of a bunch or the wrapping thereon of a binder.

The mechanism for imparting timed or interval rotary motion to the gear 6 comprises an internally toothed sector 1Q clearly shown in Fig. 2, the said sector cooperating with a shaft 13 journaled in a slide 14, clearly shown in Fie. 2st, said slide having a dove-tailed connection with a guide 15. 'lhe secte-r has rigidly connected with it a cone 16, shown in detail in Fig. Q11, the base of the cone constituting the slide, and to this base is secured a downward extending stud or projection 17 which works in a slot 18 in the guide, and said projection is engaged by the forked end of a lever 19 fulcrumed intermediate of its ends upon a bracket 2O secured to a fixed partof the machine (Fig. Q-l), the lower end of the lever being provided with a roller bearing 21, which engages a cam groove 22 in a cam 23 mounted upon the main drive shaft 24C. then the cam ..3 revolves, and the roller passes to the proper portion in the groove thereof to shift the lever 15), the slide and with it the sector are thrown laterally, thereby bringing the sector over the gear (S and into position to mesh therewith. When the sector' is shifted, the cone 1G rides against a ball or anti-friction bearing 25 carried by a slide 26 mounted for sliding movement upon a guide 27 carried by an arm 28 mounted at one end upon the shaft 13 and carrying at its opposite end the pair of jaws 2, a pair of jaws 3 being carried by a similar arm 29 also 'mounted upon the shaft 18, as clearly shown in Fig. ll. A spring Q8 is provided, one end of which bears upon the end wall of the guide 27, and its opposite end against an extension 31 of the slide (Fig. Q5) said spring operating normally to hold the bearing 25 against the cone. The slide has connected with its outer end a cross piece 32 havin@ connected at each end thereof one end of a pair of rods 33 and 34;, the opposite ends of which are connected, respectively, to the jaws Q, as clearly shown in Figs. 19 and 20.

As will be seen in reference to Fig. 19 the rod 33 is connected with one jaw above its pivotal point and the rod 3ft with the other jaw below its pivotal point, and it will be seen from this arrangement that when the slide is forced rearward through the movement of the cone 1G, the jaws will be closed around a bunch and be held in this position until the rolls are brought into position to discharge the bunch, whereupon the cam 23 will operate to shift the lever 19 in the opposite direction, thus to move the cone back to its normal position and permit the spring QS autiiimatically to ell'ect opening of the jaws and thus the release of the bunch. At the same time that the slide 2U is actuated to close the jaws, rotary movement is imparted to the two arms 28 and 29 supporting the rolls through the medium of a sector 35, clearly shown in Fig. 1a in full lines,

and in dotted lines in Fig. 2, this sector" meshing with a gear 36 mounted upon the shaft 13 and fast to the hub portions of the arms 28@L and 29. The sector 35 is fulcrumed to a rockshaft journaled in suitable bearings in the frame, and near one end of the shaft and in alinement with the shank of the sector is secured an arm 3S, the free end of which carries a roller 39 working in a cam groove 40 cut in the face of a wheel 41 mounted upon the shaft 24, t-lie cam groove being shown in F ig. 2 and the wheel in Fig. 1a. The throw of the cam is so timed that when the rolls close, the sector 35 is rocked, thereby lifting the arms 28a and 29, and with them the rolls, bringing the gear 6 into mesh with the teeth of the sector 12. As the arms continue to nieve the rolls are driven and the bunch therein is rolled, compressed and shaped and is transferred to a point of discharge, where the bunch may be delivered, for example, to wrapper-applying mechanism; and when this point is reached the cone 16 and the sector 12 are again moved laterally, thereby opening the rolls and throwing the sector 12 out of engagement with the gear 6, whereupon rotation of the rolls ceases. By shifting the sector 12 laterally, it will be thrown out of the path of the gear 6, so that upon the ret-urn movement of the arms 28a and 29, the rolls will remain open and thus in position to receive a fresh bunch. y.

Coacting with the bunch-making rolls is a binder and filler or bunch supporter comprising a flexible apron 42 held by an arm 43 arranged over but to one side of the rolls, thus to be out. of the path of the movement thereof. The arm 43 is carried by a vertical slide bar 44, the lower end of which connects with one end of a lever 45 fulcrumed at 46 to a fixed part of the machine and having at its free end a roller 47 to engage a cam groove 4S in the w ieel 41, the operation of the binder and filler or bunch supporter being such that when the bunch-makin,f rolls are open the said apron will be down and bridge the space between the rolls, the apron being,` thus positioned as the rolls resume their normal position, and the rolls in such resumption pass under the supporter 4and cause the same to rest thereon. The apron receives the filler and also supports the inner end of the binder, and to force the filler and binder down in between the rolls, or into the position shown in Fig. 19, there is a'plunger 49 provided, shown in detail in Fig. 23, the head 50 of which is of a length equal to t-he length, or approximately the length, of a bunch, and has its under face concaved or grooved to conform to the shape of the bunch. rlliis plunger has an arm 51 which is connected with a vertical bar 52, (Fig. 2) the lower end of which is pivoted to a lever 53 fulcrumed intermediate of its ends upon a fixed part of the frame of the machine, the inner or free end of the lever having a roller 54 adapted to travel in a cam Siroove 55 in the face of the wheel 41. rlhe cam groove 55 is of Such contour that the plunger is held raised until the filler has beenplaced upon the supporter and the binder is positioned, whereupon it descends and forces' the supporter, together with the filler and binder, down between the rolls forming a pocket therein, and immediately thereafter ascends. By the time it reaches the limit of its'upward stroke` the bunch-making rolls are closed by the mechanism before described, thereby compressing the filler and inclosing` the free end of the binder within them. Before the rolls start to lift, or to have swinging movement imparted to them, the supporter is thrown out by the rotation of the rolls and is then lifted by the bar 44. It is to be understood, of course, that while the plunger is advantageous for use in connection with the binder and filler or bunch supporter 42, it is not absolutely essential as the operator could place the filler and binder upon the supporter and by hand force them down in between the bunch-making rolls. This supporter may be omitted or removed, if desired, and the bunch disposed directly by manual operation in the bunch-making rolls without the use of mechanism devised for this purpose.

To effect a smooth and regular feed of the binder to the iiller, there is provided a tension means or support 56 for a binder, consisting essentially of a box-like structure having a perforated top, the boX having suitable suction mechanism combined with it to hold the binder under tension. The binder may be placed by hand upon the tension means and held tightly thereagainst by the suction, and in being drawn therefrom by the movement of the bunch-making rolls is held taut, and smoothly fed to the bunch; but the resistance presented to its withdrawal from the tension means will not be sufficient to cause any tearing.

lVhile the sector 12 herein shown is toothed throughout its length, it will be ob vious that if preferred it may be toothed only a portion of its length, thus to reduce the number of revolutions of the rolls and the compressing action thereof, or if preferred, the toothed portions may be made bunch should be removed before the bunch is transferred to the wrapper-applying mechanism. This mechanism comprises a the nicking knife is moved laterally the finished cigar to be discharged from the said mechanism.

Combined with the wrapper applying mechanism is a nicker for cutting a slit at the tip end of the wrapper to cause it to fit the tip of the cigar without creasing or wrinkling, and also a cutting device for removing the surplus wrapper after severing by the nicker and for polishing and finishing the tip of the cigar. The nicking mechanism shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 13 comprises a rotary armed knife 89 carried by a shaft 90 which is journaled in a slide block 91 working between guides 92 suitably supported on the upper portion of the frame of the machine. The shaft 90 carries a pinion 93 which meshes with a pinion 94 carried by one end of a shaft 95, the other end of the shaft having secured to it an elongated pinion 96 which'meshes with the gear 71 of the wheel 41. The two jaws 72 and 74 each carry the half section of a conical cup 97, constituting as to its exterior the male member of a die, the end of which is open to permit the tip of the cigar to project therethrough to be operated upon by the tip polishing mechanism., presently to be described. The cup members, as clearly shown by Figs. 11 and 13, are spaced apart upon their upper sides to present a gap or slot 98 through which the fiap to be severed by the nicking knife can escape, and in Operation the face of the nicking knife impinges against the outer end of the cup 97, as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and thus effects the formation of a slit at the tip end of the wrapper, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 16, while the wrapper is being wound around the bunch at the head end of the latter, to thus form a flap on the wrapper and permit the bunch to take up the wrapper at its head end without accumulation of superfluous wrappcr,the superfluous wrapper material being removed or cut off by means which will also be presently described. It is only essential that the nicking knife should coact with the cup 97 when the tip of the cigar is to be finished, and, to permit the tipforming mechanism to perform its function and also to allow the cigar to be discharged, away from the cup during these operations. This lateral movement of the nicking knife is effected through the medium of a cam race 99 in the wheel 41, the slide block 91 carrying the shaft 95 being provided with a friction roller 100 to engage the cam race. This race is so constructed that the slide block,

and with it the nicker, is brought into cooperative relation with the cup 97 only at such times as is necessary to nick a wrapper, at other times the said block being moved backward, thus to permit the wrapper applying rolls to freely open and close. 1n o-rder to allow the nicker to perform its complete function, the elongated pinion 96 is provided, which will be of such length that as the slide block is reciprocated the said pinion will remain in mesh with the gear 71. 1t will be observed with reference to Fig. 18 that there is a wide gap left between two of the cutting blades of the nicking knife, and this space is provided to permit proper operation of the wrapper head cutting and tip-polishing mechanism now to be described.

Formed in the guide 92 is a semi-cylindrical case 101, see Fig. 15, in which is splined for longitudinal movement a sleeve 102, the forward end of which serves as a knife 103a which coacts with the cup 97 to trim off the surplus portions of the wrapper from the flap formed by the nicking knife in advance of the application of the tippolishing device.

It will be understood from the finishing mechanism thus far described that the portion of the bunch forced into and extending through the header will be cut off and by degrees a' slit will also be formed in the wrapper while the latter is wound around the head end of the bunch and thus form a flap on the wrapper and permit the bunch to take up the wrapper at its head end without accumulation of superfluous wrapper material, and, furthermore, means are provided for discontinuing the slitting operation and for causing the female portion of the wrapper heading die to force the wrapper against the male head and simultaneously, or in one operation, cut off the superfluous wrapper Y material and obtain the shape of the wrapper requisite for the proper head formation of a cigar.

Splined within the sleeve 102 is a shaft 108, the outer end of which is provided with a cone-shaped depression 104, corresponding to the shape of the tip end of a cigar and within which the same fits, the rotation of the cigar imparted by the wrapper-applying rolls causing the tip to be finished by the walls of the said recess. The knife carrying sleeve 102 is brought into cooperative relation with the cup through the medium of a cam groove 105 in the wheel. 41, the said sleeve being provided with a rollerbearing 106 to engage said groove, and like motion is imparted to the tip polisher -through the medium of a cam groove 107 in the same wheel, said groove being engaged by a roller-bearing 108 on the shaftv of the tip polisher.

The operation of this portion of Vthis apparatus is as follows: After a bunch has had the wrapper applied to it in a manner that will presently be described, the nicker is moved up into cooperative relation with the cup 97 and the slit is formed yin the tip end of the wrapper, as shown in Fig.,16.

ll/Vhen a proper amount of the wrapper has been severed by the nicking mechanism to permit the formation of a perfect tip, the knife 103n is then projected forward and fitting over the cup 97 serves to trim the flap formed by the nicking mechanism, along a line such as dotted line e, Fig. 1G, to provide a tip end of proper shape, such as t in said figure, after which operation the tip former moves up against the tip of the cigar and finishes the same. In order that the wrapper shall be properly secured around the tip of the cigar, suitable paste must be supplied, and in such quantities as will be requisite for the purpose designed. To effect this result a paste cup 109 is provided, see Figs. 1, 11 and 151 the lower end of which discharges into a duct 110 which communicates through a flexible connection 111 with a passageway 112 formed in the members of the cup, said duct, as shown dotted in Fig. 13, being curved so as to discharge the paste in front of the flap being wound. The supply of paste is automatically discharged by a piston 113, (Figs. 11 and 15) connected with a slide 114, said slide being a hollow structure forming a guide for the inner end of and housing a spring 115 that bears against an ear 116 on the piston. The rear end of the slide carries a roller bearing 117 which is arranged in the path of movement of a cam projection 118 (Fig. 1a) arranged on the inner face of the wheel 411. It will be seen from the arrangement disclosed that when the cam surface contacts with the roller 117 the slide will be projected forwardly compressing the spring 115 and at the same time projecting the piston 113 which will force out through the passageway 112 a charge of paste sufficient to effect the proper pasting of the tip end of the cigar, and as soon as the cam surface 118 passes the roller 117, the spring 115 will cause the slide to resume its normal position.

In Fig. 141 there is shown a slightly modified form of wrapper head-cutting and tippolishing device. In this form of the embodiment of the invention, in addition to the knife 103a and the tip finisher 104i there is provided a hollow rotary brush 119 which is projected in advance of the tip finishing device to force the wrapper around the tip of the bunch before the tip is iinished. To effect movement of the brush-bearing element into engagement with the tip portion of the cigar, this latter is provided with a bearing 120 adapted to engage with a suitable cam groove or race in the wheel 111. This latter' form of tip-finishing device is highly efficient in use and will result in the production of a cigar having a neatly and, smoothly finished tip.

In the form of device shown in Figs.` 29 and 30, the jaws 72 and 74 have each a half cup 121 and 122, through which the tip end of the cigar projects when closed. Coacting with the two cups is a cutter for severing the head end of the wrapper und a nickel'. 'ille means for nicking the wrapper com prises a rotary cutter 123 (Fig. 2S) which is adapted to be projected by suitable mechanism into engagement with the open ends of the two cup sections 121 and 122 when assembled to form the slit in the wrapper as above described. and after this operation cutting away of the surplus wrapper severed by the nicker is effected by a cutting device embodying a male member 121 and female member 125 carried by arms 126 and 127, respectively. Each of the members of the cutting device is a quarter sphere, and the member 121i is provided with a depression 128 to receive one of the cup members, as clearly shown in Fig. 2S, and the other member 125 is provided with an approximately vertically-disposed recess 129 through which the wrapper passes. The member 12k is provided with a knife 130 of a shape to cut the desired head formation on the wrapper, and the member 125 is provided with a recess 1531 conforming to the knife against which the same coacts in severing the head of the wrapper. By the employment of the members 1.2-1 and 125 different shaped head formations may be formed by changing the contour of the knife, and as this will be readily understood, detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

llrapycr cutting and transform/12g mechanism-lille wrapper cutting and transferring mechanism. shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, comprises a die 132 which is of a shape to conform to that of the wrapper, said die being supported upon a suitable platform 138, and is adapted for adjustment vertically and horizontally, as shown in Fig. 7, to cause proper cooperation between it and the means .for cutting a wrapper placed thereon. Coacting with the die is a wrapper transferrer 134, the same com,- prising a hollow casing provided with a curved neck 135, which is journaled upon a hollow shaft 136 connecting through a flexible conduit 137 with a suitable suction device, not shown. The free end of the transferrer carries a flat perforated plate 13S which also conforms to the shape of the wrapper and is adapted to fit within the walls of the die, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The suction on the plate 188 operates to hold the wrapper firmly thereon while being cut to the proper shape to form a w lapper and also while being transferred to the feeder or presenting mechanism, referred, to hereinafter. It is of course essen tial that during the cutting' and transferring operation of the transferrer, suction should be maintained first upon the leaf and then upon the wrapper; and it is also essential that the suction should gradually be released so a cord or chain 182, see Fig. 4, the opposite end of which passes through a guide 183 in the feeder' standard 184, thence passes around a roller 185 at the outer end of the standard, and thence to the rear o't' the standard and is connected at 180 with the feeder. It will be seen from the description thus far given, that when the toothed portion of the mutilated gear engages the gear 181 mot-ion will be imparted to the shaft 177 in a direction to Wind the cord 182 around the wrapper-feeder actuator and controller, thereby imparting an inward movement to the feeder to causo the same to move the superposed wrapper toward the wrapper-applying mechanism, and this motion is continued until the feeder has been moved the required distance to effect complete feeding of the wrapper, whereupon the toot-hed portion of the mutilated gear passes out of engagement with the gear 181, thereby stopping the rotation of the wrapper-feeder actuator and controller. To effect automatic return of the feeder to its position, a spring barrel 187 is provided, which is suitably supported by arms 188 on the under side of the wrapper' feeder support, and to the periphery of this barrel is connected one end of a cord or chain 189, the other end of which passes around the roller 185 and around a roller 190 and is secured at 191 to the feeder. As the feeder is being moved forward by the wrapper-feeder actuator and controller, the spring in the barrel 187 is placed under tension. When the gear 181 is released from engagement with the gear 81, the spring eX- erts tension on the cord 189 and effects auto- `matie return of the feeder to its normal position. The function of the wrapper-actuator and controller .is to cause thefeed of the wrapper to correspond exactly to the speed of travel of the bunch at its various diameters and to provide for the various laps be ing made around the bunch, the pitch of the groove of the said controller corresponding to the angles of presentation of the wrapper to the bunch, the longitudinal center of the wrapper' being caused to correspond to the center' of the groove throughout the entire presentation of the wrapper to the bunch, and the pitch of the groove being such relatively to the angular presentation of the wrapper to the bunch as to cause the proper lap of the wrapper around the bunch and 0bviate the production of what is termed in the art an overlapped or over-rolled cigar.

Wrapper feeder actuating mechanism- There is combined with the wrapper .feeder mechanism means for imparting vertically reciprocatory and horizontally arcuate and longitudinal reciprocatory movements thereto, together with means for tilting the feeder mechanism transversely of its standard at the limit of the arcuate movement to cause the W appel to be fed in such manner as to correspond to the decreasing diameter of the cigar toward the tip and to closely fit the latter.

.lhe means for imparting vertically reciproeatory movement to the wrapper-feeder mechanism comprises an arm 192, see Fig. 4, one end of which is j ournaled upon the drive shaft 24, the opposite end, having secured to it the table 193 comprised in the wrapper feeding means or wrapper feeding mechanism. The arm 192 carries a stud 194, see Fig. 2, which is engaged by one end of a bell-crank lever 195, fulcrumed at its bend to the side of the machine frame and having at its opposite end a roller bearing 196 which engages a cam race 197 in the face of the wheel 82. The contour of the cam groove or race 197 is such that when the wrapper is first fed to the bunch the table, and with it the feeder mechanism, will be elevated, but as soon as the wrapper starts to be wrapped around the bunch, the portion of the cam groove 197 is presented that causes the table to be moved downward, bringing the wrapper into intimate contact with the first roll of the wrapping mechanism.

The means for imparting horizontally arcuate and longitudinally reciprocatory movements to the wrapper feeder orpresenting mechanism to cause the wrapper to follow the contour of the bunch comprises a slide-plate 198, see Figs. 4 and 0, the same being mounted within a frame comprising two side members 199, an end member 200, and an arm 201 which is fulcrumed at 202 upon, the rear portion of the table 193. Upon the table is secured a plate 203 having two longitudinally-disposed slots 204 and- 205 therein, the slot 204 having its intermediate portion straight and its two end portions curved in opposite directions, and the slot 205 being straight throughout the greater portion of its length and having one end curved to correspond to the curve in one end of the slot 204. The slot 205 operates through coacting mechanism, which will be presently explained, to cause the feeder' mechanism to have a longitudinal movement that will efl'ect a relative movement of the superposed wrapper to conforni to the shape of the bunch being wound, and to insure a regular application of the wrapper to the hunch, and the slot 204 operates through coacting mechanism to impart particular horizontal arcuate movements to the feeder mechanisni, or the wrapper together with the feeder mechanism is caused to follow the bunch in a longitudinal direction, or travel lengthwise of the bunch, and to assume proper angular positions, particularly at the tuck and tip ends of the bunch. To accomplish these results there is provided a gear 20G, which loosely tits in a circular opening 207 cut entirely through the slide plate 198, the wall of said circular opening operating to guide this gear in its rotary movement, and the gear having teeth formed therein over only a portion of its periphery, as clearly shown by Fig. 5. rlhe gear 206 is also provided with an eccentrically disposed, downwardly projecting stud or roller 208, which engages the slot 2011. rIhe upper side of the plate 198 is provided with an approximately semi-circular depression or seat 209, in which is disposed a toothed sector 210, the said depression or seat communicating with the circular opening 207, and the sector being held in mesh with the teeth of the gear 206. rllhe toothed sector 210 does not contact with the plate 203, because the lower wall of the depression or seat 209 `is interposed between the said sector and the plate 203.

rllhe lower portion of the feeder support or standard 184 is provided with an eXtension 211, see Fig. fr, through which passes a headed stud 212 on which the sector 210 is mounted, the lower end of the st-ud being provided with a roller bearing 213 which engages the slot 205. To hold the sector against turning any suitable means may be provided, as a pin or bolt 214, which passes y through the extension 211 of the feeder support or standard and into the sector.

The forward end of the frame 199 is provided with an arm 215 carrying a ball 216, and engaging this ball is a rod 217 having a socket at each end, one of which engages the ball 210 yand the other the ball 218 of a lever 210, the lower end of which is mounted for pivotal movementnpon the base of the frame of the machine, see Figs. 1, 2, et, 6, and 31. Connecting with the lever 219 is one end of a rod 220, the other end of which connects with an arm 221 suitably fulcrumed at one end to the frame, the opposite end of the arm 221 being provided with a roller bearing 222 which engages a cam race 223 in a wheel 22st mounted on the shaft 1412. Upon motion being imparted to the wheel 22st the cam groove therein operates to rock the lever 219 and thereby turn the frame upon its fulcrum 202. Upon initial movement of the frame and plate, the stud or roller 208 is forced down a curved portion 225 of the slot 204, thereby imparting rotary movement to the gear 206, which latter, by coaction with the sector 210, swings the feeder standard 184 through an arc correspondingl to the curve of the tuck or head end of the cigar, thereby causing` the wrapper to be properly applied thereto. rEhe stud then passes into the straight portion of the slot 204s and the feeder standard then moves, together with the wrapper presenting devices cooperating therewith, in a straight line so long as the stud remains in the straight portion of the slot 20-lf, but as soon as the stud enters the curved portion 226 of said slot, the wrapper feeder or presenting mechanism has an arcuate movementv imparted thereto which turns the same to a position to cause the wrapper to assume theproper angle to be applied to the tip end of the cigar, and at the same time the stud 212 enters the curved portion 227 of the slot 205, thereby bodily moving the wrapper feeder toward the bunch and causing the proper application of the wrapper thereto. The stud or roller 213 moving in the slot 205 during the arcurate swing of the standard 18a, the feeder 174: held thereon, the slide plate 198 and side members 199, as an entirety, operate to continually move the slide plate 198 inwardly and to maintain the innerterminal of the said slide plate in a uniform spaced relation with respect to the bunch while the said stud or roller 213 is moving in the longitudinally straight portion of slot 205, and the extremity of the feeder 171 will be correspondingly moved, or in other words the slide plate 198 serves to control the 'feeder 171 with accuracy and reproduction of movement through the standard 184. During the operation of the stud or roller 213 in the slot 205, the roller 208 of the gear 200 is following in the slot 20st, the said gear 200 while in the longitudinally straight portion of said slot 201 operating only to such an extent as no-t in the least to interfere with the inward movement of the slide plate 198, but when the stud or roller 213 reaches the terminal of the curved portion 227 of the slot 205, it will be appreciably rotated as the combined feeding mechanism continues to be swung in an arcuate path by engagement with the segment 210, and such operation of the gear 206 at this time will cause the slide plate 198 to continue to move inwardly and correspondingly actuate the feeder 174C through the standard 184 to dispose the wrapper and the inner extremity of the feeder 17 4 at a proper angle with respect to the tip end of the bunch.

The curve of the slots 204: and 205 eX- actly correspond to the curves of the wrapper-feeder actuator and controller, and in determining the shape of the cigar, the curves of these parts have to be considered. 1f different shaped cigars are desired, a different plate 203 and a different shaped wrapper-feeder actuator and controller 170 would have to be employed. In addition, means are provided for causing the wrapper feeder to be tilted transversely at the limit of its arcuate movement to feed the wrapper to the bunch in conformity with the decreasing diameter of the head end of the latter. This mechanism comprises two intermeshing sectors 228 and 229 pivoted upon the outer sideof the feeder standard 

